JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After being shot in the line of duty last year, officer Malik Daricaud spent the morning back at JSO headquarters to receive a Purple Heart award.
It's an award to recognize an military or first responder who's been wounded or killed while serving.
After his near death experience in 2023, the 26-year-old Navy veteran is living with a spinal cord injury.
He spent a year in recovery, and was released from brooks rehabilitation in April.
Officer Daricaud still works with JSO, now in their real time crime center.
Sheriff T.K Waters says his dedication to the sheriff's office before and after the incident makes him stand out in the force.
“It's good to have him back because we're not going to take a police officer who's given everything he's to our community and just throw it away. We're going to take care of him and make sure that we have a place for him to work,” he explained.
The crowd filled every seat in the Police Memorial Building, the walls lined by other officers. All showing support to Officer Daricaud and his wife and son.